The warning from the past

[Philip Benstead]

http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/heyday-sho ... cle/911573
Heyday 'should serve as a warning to other charities'
09 June 2009 by John Plummer, 2 comments
Sir Christopher Kelly's verdict: This Age Concern England project was bound to fail

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
Don't know the whole story but the trend in charities like they want to be known as, to me is not a charity but a place to employ people who don't always fit the job / have ulterior motives.

There must be a way where those wishing to spend millions on a an IT structure are forced to use an existing working system, not try to reinvent the wheel.
Like Police, Councils etc etc, then are simply to afraid to ask for advise from the real experts, must be a man thing where seeking advise is to be seen as a weakness / failure.

I always remember the IT system used by the RNLI in southwest England which failed the day a well known bug would hit us all, and all they had to do was update the software beforehand, I can only assume that someone thought that someone else was going to do it.
The fire brigade also have fallen into the trap.

What is real Charity

[Labrat]

[Philip Benstead]

Labrat,

Are you suggesting the same old record?

[JohnW]

Be careful Philip - or someone will tell you that your drum's worn out!

Don't upset yourself Philip - you care about the CTC, but can anyone confirm that the decision makers do?

[Psamathe]

http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/heyday-should-serve-warning-charities/finance/article/911573
Heyday 'should serve as a warning to other charities'
09 June 2009 by John Plummer, 2 comments
Sir Christopher Kelly's verdict: This Age Concern England project was bound to fail

You raise an interesting point. couple of years ago (when I was a member) it because apparent there was an aspect of what they were doing (computer wise) where they [CTC] were out of their depth, were not getting advice and were "getting it wrong". As it was an area I knew about and had experience in (it having been my job for many many years) I offered to help on a voluntary basis (free). I did eventually get to speak to somebody who pretty well admitted their failings, but they were not interested in voluntary advice or help - which I thought rather strange. If you don't know what you are doing, are making a mess of it most people/organisations would accept free help.

Ian

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I found working in high tech industry, that them lot, give you a very blank look IF you offer free help / advise.
I can imagine those who never offer to help for zero reward think that if its free it must be cheap and insignificant.
They want to spend lots so they can be sure that they brought something that must be good because it cost the earth, but it always takes a nobody employee to say that we've be done.

[Heltor Chasca]

There is no value in offering services for free. I agreed to bring down 3 trees for someone I used to do charity work with. I knew times are hard for her so I never mentioned money.

One Sunday I had free I went along to do the work. No problem there. However I ended up doing 7 trees. No cup of tea, coffee, cake, lunch....Nothing. Not even a, 'When I have some cash, I'll give you some beer money."

All that has happened is that I resent her now. Not my style, but the truth. I regret my generosity...b

[Psamathe]

There is no value in offering services for free. I agreed to bring down 3 trees for someone I used to do charity work with. I knew times are hard for her so I never mentioned money.

One Sunday I had free I went along to do the work. No problem there. However I ended up doing 7 trees. No cup of tea, coffee, cake, lunch....Nothing. Not even a, 'When I have some cash, I'll give you some beer money."

All that has happened is that I resent her now. Not my style, but the truth. I regret my generosity...b

But when you offer to a charity, to help where they have an acknowledged lack of knowledge and ability and are making a complete mess of things, to refuse seems weird. OK, if they then required lots of additional stuff then that is their choice and my choice as to whether I undertake that additional work. But to refuse needed help (for free) makes one wonder what they are up to.

Because, if they cannot learn from past mistakes and if they cannot accept help for free then what are they really about ?

In you case of the trees, you offered to do the work and when that workload was increased you had the choice to accept or decline the (additional) work. It was your choice. So whilst you might have ended up unhappy that was your choice and the recipient benefitted. So, in my/CTC case in a similar position the CTC would still have benefitted. Which is why I am/was so surprised and why I question quite what their game really is. I suspect it is just total incompetence and that raises many questions about how they are actually spending membership fees/donations/tax payers money.

Ian

[Heltor Chasca]

Absolutely Ian. I'm a fault too. Some times I can be too hard and other times I'm selfless and I'm the only one who looses out. I can sympathise with your situation. Us good folk have pride.

[Psamathe]

Absolutely Ian. I'm a fault too. Some toes I can be too hard and other times I'm selfless and I'm the only one who looses out. I can sympathise with your situation. Us good fold have pride.

I have done the same. I used to volunteer doing some rather specialised work 2 full days a week (twice every week, 8am to 16:30) and after a bit I found they were tending to not use my time as "effectively as they might". So I had a chat and they appreciated being made aware but the senior management was a bit disorganised and eventually I felt my time could be better spent elsewhere. It was a bit more than turning up to help as there were initial interviews, site specific training, insurance issues, risk assessments, etc. so not the sort of thing you "give a go" and I did have relevant qualifications and experience. It was a bit difficult as I loved the type of work and mornings I was really needed but afternoons where they were not making productive use of my time and I was not keen on mornings only as that would still take out my full day (by the time you get home, get cleaned-up ...).

Ian